Have grasped the nettle..........now to deal with the ensuing rash

mwddrwg

Bore da Igamogam,




Hope you're all OK after that awful wind last night. We live up in the hills outside Bangor and was truly terrifying for hours on end. A miracle we didn't have any long power cuts.
We had some storm damage to our roof (gable end edging) over Christmas night/Boxing Day so a surveyor from the insurance is coming on Monday. I hope that they agree to fix it for us as it's very high up and not possible to do without installing expensive scaffolding!


Have a good New Year.

Igamogam

Have that feeling its a look back look forward kinda day - 2016 around the corner and all that.............will give it some thought and come back later

Igamogam

So finally I get back.......been a busy start to the year and I really wanted to get all my thoughts formulated before I committed to typing anything

So the start of 2016 sees me/us still in debt.Its smaller but not as small as I had wished/hoped. Downwards is always good I guess. 2015 saw a huge house project undertaken - and only just coming to the end really. I thought we would have been finished much earlier but OH did his Trip of a Lifetime in October which put things back ( as he is doing most of the work) It would appear that he believes he is a cat and has more than one lifetime as he announced on NY day that he will be going again and almost making it sound as if it could become an an annual event.................we have yet to have the conversation about cost implications.................this isn't the place or time to display my thoughts.

Apart from small debt reduction and a house project in 2015 we also finished paying off our mortgage:j We did the hard way - every last penny but helped by some PPI and bank charge and miss sold endowment claims along the way. I was hoping that the extra money that it would release would go straight onto debt payment but 3 months in, that hasn't happened. In fact, since the end of October I have made only minimum payments and very few PADs/OPs. 2015 also saw me make some break through in clearing the house of 'stuff'. Lots of headway made if truth be known but not enough for some in this household. Managed to sell quite a lot, most of which went to paying for part of the house project, which surprised the OH when I was able to come up with a significant amount of dosh and tell him where it had come from - his solution to decluttering was to hire a skip or two and dump the lot, well, what is considered my stuff as it has no 'value' and him the responsible eco-warrior............ I had hoped the life laundry would have been completed by now but RL stood in the way a few times and held things it up. Momentum is gaining again so I am confident it will happen this year. Certainly a net flow out of the door as I bought very little in 2015 - only essentials

Now the year ahead. I started losing weight, with no effort, once I reconciled myself as to why I lived surrounded by so much 'stuff' - we dont live in a scary 'secret hoarder' place, just a large house with LOTS of storage space inside and out - and once I had got my head round all the whys and wherefores,I found it easier to think of me I have always been an 'eat less move more' rather than any fad diet/fat club type person. We eat well and always have done and I like cooking, proper cooking, but I spent 2 periods in 2015 on my own whilst family members where away and I found I reverted to type: I am a natural grazer! Anyway, as a family we looked at how we eat, made a few changes and we are all trimmer and fitter for it and I intend it continues in 2016. I also intend to make much more use of the beautiful part of the country we live in - have taken it for granted for too long.

On the money front I have been looking for some 'challenges' to follow but have found nothing on here to inspire me:o. I will continue with the PAD and Konmarie thread as they are friendly posters on there -no judgments - and I will follow a couple of DFW diaries ( I have again ditched a few ) I can save my change into various pots without following others who do it. I pick up every bit of loose change I find but its very little as live in a rural low population spot there isn't much lying around! I use a cash back site for online purchases,complete surveys on 3 different sites to raise a bit more cash and use comparison sites for everything I can! I also intend to sell more stuff and save money any which way I can, but dont what to sign up to any MSE challenge so I am beginning to think I may have 'out grown' MSE................or maybe its more that I now know what to do to become DF and dont need other stories to keep me going, but I do like reading other's experiences on here.........oh what to do what to do!!!

One thing I am going to do straight away it draw myself another grid to colour in each 1% I pay off - it worked for me:) Now if there was a thread 'make 1600K a month' I would have this debt licked in no time;)

Igamogam

Phew long post - bit heart on sleevey - thats not like me!

brizzledfw

hello :wave:

Good to hear it all..well most of it and do know what you mean re the challenges..not always easy to find something that is exactly right. I am doing the MFiT again..(but you don't need that ) and the other thing, which works for me, is that I do find the discipline of posting often keeps me on the straight and narrow.

Sounds like your life laundry is going well...you're making progress on a huge number of things and have solid outcomes from projects eg. the house to show for the year just gone. Impressive stuff.

Like the colour 'bricks' idea..whatever works. OH and I find YNAB and playing with the totals there helps...but I think maybe a chart on the wall for the family..perhaps for the big holiday we would like in the next 12 months would be a good incentive..somewhere which is a conversation piece..eg. in the kitchen. Where will you put your chart?

Have a good week

Igamogam

Hi Brizz

I looked at YNAB but OH not completely on board so I dont think its for us. My chart just sits in front of top drawer of filing cabinet....that way I always know where it is!!

I agree with the discipline of posting too

Igamogam

When an icon from the soundtrack of your youth dies it kinda brings all too close.............:o Sad day

Igamogam

Earlier this year we bought a brand new car - I have a long commute and need something reliable. My last car was owned from new and is now the car OH drives. It is however 10 years old and is beginning to need lots of TLC to keep on road.............so it looks like we will need to purchase a second car this year:( Was hoping that wouldnt happen until next year and I think OH is still thinking that but needs must ......... OH got his head in the sand I feel

brizzledfw

Oh dear. Can see that's not part of the plan...

As you know I have a long commute though too and I am generally prepared to pay for the piece of mind that goes with a reliable vehicle. Does OH need that too? If it's less of an issue can it be a ' new to you' car rather than 'new new'?

Like the filing cabinet idea..but feel in my house we need a bit of a huge reminder!!! And a conversation starter with folks that drop by too! The latter is something I am trying to do...still hate the way that money is one of the last taboos in our society

Igamogam

No intention of buying another brand new car Brizzle! With the new reg due in March I am hoping to persuade OH to have a look at a car that will be 3 years old - owner part exing for a new car. Well thats my plan I will have to see..............